Lewis h



(No Model.)

L.l H. SONDHBIM.

PENCIL.

- `llantented Mar. 1, 1892.

ATTUHVEYS y forward for feedingthelead to provide a new -holds a movablelead or crayon which may be required, and may be pushed backward bypencil-casing when not in use.

`crayon and its holding and adjust-ing mech- PATENT Orricn.

LE NVIS H. SONDHEIM,

PEN

OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

CIL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,754, dated March 1,1892.

Application filed August 9, 1890.

To (tu whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS H. SONDHEIM, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and Improved Pencil, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive,and.efcient pencil having a casing which is preferably made of wood andretains its original length or is not to be cut away as the lead wearsaway, and

fed forward to furnish new writing-points as pressure on its point toprotect it within the The invention will first be described, and thenwill be defined in claims hereinafter set forth.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

`Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved pencil withthe lead-adjusting mechanism in normal positions; Fig. 2 is a likesectional view, but with the cap pressed writing-point. Fig. 3 is adetail sectional side view of portionsof thefeed-tube,the lead-tube, thetraveler, and the lead, all removed from the pencil-casing and drawn tolarger scale than in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 4 is a still more enlargedsectional view of portions of the feedtube, the lead-tube, the traveler,and the lead, f and taken in a plane at right angles to Fig. 3. Fig. 5is a cross-section of the pencil, taken on the line .fr @c in- Fig. l,but drawn to a larger scale; and Fig. 6 is a detail view showing amodiiied form of the lead-feeding tube.

The casing A of the pencil' is preferably made of wood tapered at theforward end and bored out longitudinally to receive the lead or anism,presently described. At its back end the casing is preferably providedwith a ferrule a, to which is iitted a longitudinally-sliding cap B,which is retained by impressed studs or lips on the ferrule enteringslots of the cap in the usual manner. In the bore of the casing isplaced loosely a feed-tube C, inside of which is fitted a lead-tube D,which serai 110,361,530'. ci@ moda.)

may be fastened at its forward end to the inside of the casing or whichmay be held stationary or against rotary movement by a close tit andconsequent frictional contact of its head or enlarged forward end d2with the walls of the bore of the casing. I prefer to fit the enlargedend d2 of the tube j ust loosely enough in the bore of the pencil-casingto allow the tube to have rotary motion therein, as by thisconstructionthe tube will not cause splitting of the casing when thelatter is made of. wood and is swelled by dampness, and its bore isconsequently contracted, and the end or head cl2 also obviates lateralbreaking strains on the lead where it passes through the bore at thetapered end of the casing. Within the lead-tube D is placed loosely atraveler E, which carries a spring-pawl extending from said travelerinto and through a slot in the lead-tube D and into recesses or openingsin the feed-tube C and operates directly upon the lead F in the tube Dto feed the lead forward as the cap B is pressed forward, and ashereinafter more fully explained.

The feed-tube C is provided with a length- Wise slot c, along one sideof which are formed teeth c', producing between them notches c2, whichreceive the Aacting end of the travelerpawl which is engaged by theteeth. The feedtube teeth c are preferably shaped with a square orright-angularly-disposed front edge, which engages the traveler-pawl,and an oblique or slanting rear edge, allowing the teeth to easily slipunder the pawl as the latter clicks from one recess or notch c2 to theother during the backward movement of the feedtube. I may produce theteeth and notches c c2 by any approved cutting or stamping operation onthe metal of the feed-tube. Fig. G of the drawings illustrates how I mayproduce the full equivalent of these teeth and notches by a stamping orpressing operation at one edge of the tube-slot c of a feed-tube C',thereby forming a series of outwardly-projecting angular pockets orteeth c3, the rear ends of which are at about right angles to the bodyof the feed-tube, like the front edges of the cut or stamped teeth c',above mentioned. The outer side edges or portions of these pockets orteeth c3 range diagonally or obliquely where they merge into the roundedbody of metal of the feed-tube, which form of the pockets or teethallows the traveler-pawl to click easily from one pocket to anotherduring the backward movement of the feed-tube.

In the preferred form of the invention the feed-tube C is provided abovethe slot c with an oblique slot G, which has a uniform width and makesabout one quarter-turn around the tube, while the lead-tube is providedwith a fixed pin or stud I, which projects into tl1efeed-tube slot G. Asthe pin quite fills the slot it is obvious that as the cap VB is pressedforward to press the feed-tube likewise the feed-tube will besimultaneously turned at a continuous or uniform speed of rotation untilthe back end of the slot G strikes the leadtube pin I. Between theclosed fixed cap of the feed-tube and a plug-cap d', fitted loosely soas to turn in or on the back end of the lead-tube D, is placed a springII, which is compressed as the cap is pressed forward to advance thefeed-tube, as above described, and which normally expands to throwbackthe feed-tube and cap after pressure is removed from the cap. The looseplug-cap d of the lead-tube is free to turn more or less on or in thistube or between it and the spiral spring H to relieve friction byavoiding torsional strains on the spring as the feedtnbe partiallyrotates when ypressed forward by the cap. Manifestly the oblique slot Gmay be madein the lead-tube D, and the pin I entering said slot may befixed to the feedtube to give the saule operative results in turning thefeed-tube on the lead-tube as the cap is pressed forward, and I considerthis reversed arrangement of the slot and pin to be within the scope ofmy invention.

The lead-tube D has a lengthwise slot d, through which projects theouter free end of the traveler-pawl e, which is preferably made of anelastic wire fastened in the forward end of the body portion e' of thetraveler. As shown in the drawings, this body part e of the traveler Eis split and spread apart a little at e? at the back end to make of thetraveler-body a self-contained spring and cause it to have amplefriction on the feed-tube,within which it is placed to hold it againstbackward movement as the pawl e rides on the bac-kwardly-moving teeth cof the feed-tube C, by any one of which teeth the traveler is fedforward as the cap B is pressed forward. Instead of splitting andspreading the traveler1 at e2 to 'give it frictional contact with theleadtube, the traveler-body may be large enough in diameter throughoutto have ample frictionalI contact with the interior of the leadtube. Asa further precaution against slipping backward of the traveler as thefeed-tube moves backward, that edge or side wall of the lead-tube slot dwhich is farthest from the toothed side or edge of the feed-tube slot cmay be serrated or corrugated, as shown at d3 in Fig. 3 of the drawings.These serrations cl3 on the lead-tube allow the traveler-pawl e to clickover or slide by them when a direct pressure is brought upon thetraveler by the.

engagement of one of the teeth c' with it as the feed-tube is pushedforward to carry the le"ad forward, or by pressure endwise of the pencilon the protruding lead-point to push the point within the casing andcarry the traveler backward by the lead; but said serrations d3 willresist backward movement of the pawl e sufficiently to detain thetraveler when the pawl is pressed lateral] yor obliquely against saidserrations by the obliq uel vreceding or semi-rotary movement of thefeed-tube as it is carried backward by the spring I-I, when guided bythe slot and pin G I, above mentioned.

It will be seen that in the above-described pencil the yielding shank ofthe spring-pawl lies mainly within the peripheral plane of thelead-tube, and its flexure or tension is in an outward direction toproject its free end through the slot of the lead-tube to engagethevfeed-tube from the inside of the latter. By this construction notonly may the tubes, and consequently the casing, be made of rcduceddiameter and a more compact pencil be produced, but the flexible pawl isguarded and protected and prevented from being wrenched or deflectedfrom its proper position. This arrangement therefore is an importantfeature in pencils of this character, and I claim the same irrespectiveof the special construction of the feed-tube and irrespective of thespecial movements by which the traveler is progressed. Thus, forinstance, in my application filed April 24, 1891, Serial No. 390,283, Ihave disclosed a construction wherein I am enabled to omit thelongitudinal slotof the feed-tube. 'lhe present application isdistinguished from my other above named in that the present one coversthe pawl whose tension tends to throw it outward through the lead-tubeand the coacting parts generically, without reference to the specialform of the feed-tube, and also speciiicallyin connection with afeed-tube having a longitudinal slot or equivalent longitudinal way.

My application SerialNo. 390,283 relates specifically to theconstruction whereby the pencil is lnade operative without alongitudinal slot or way.

IOO

IIO

The operation of the pencil is very simple l and effective. When it isdesired to feed the lead or crayon F forward to obtain or renew awriting-point, it is only necessary to press the cap B forward, asshownin Fig. 2. This movement presses the feed-tube C forward on thelead-tube D and simultaneously causes the feed-tube to turn axially bythe engagement of its oblique slot G with the pin or stud I of therelatively-stationary lead-tube. Before the feed-tube hasturnedsuiiiciently to canse one of its notches c2 to clear the pawl e of thetraveler E the tooth c of the feed-tube which laid behind the pawl` willhave pushed the traveler forward some little distance or enough to causethe lead F to have been pushed or fed forward by the traveler to providea writing-point f at the forward end of the pencil,

, it turns axially while its oblique slot G is moving along thelead-tube pin I, and during this retracting movement the traveler-pawl esimply slips or clicks under vthe .receding teeth c of the feed-tube,while the traveler is detained either by its friction against thelead-tube or when the serrations d3 are provided at the lead-tube slot.These further serve to prevent .backward slip ot' the trav.- eler in thelead-tube and as Vthe feed-tube is fully retracted the pawl entersanother notch I c2 of said tube ready to again advance the traveler andlead by the next pressure on thecap B, as above described.

To guard the lead or crayon point within the pencil it is only necessaryto first press forward the cap B, to turn the teeth and notches c c2 ofthe-feedtube around clear of the traveler-pawl e or to the positionshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and then press the point of the leadupon a desk or other resisting-surface to push back the lead with thetraveler, as the traveler-pawls move in the feed-tube slot c and thelead-tube slot d until the lead is entirely within the casing. To againproject the lead for use, it is only necessary to press the cap Bforward to cause the feed-tube to advance the traveler and lead in amanner above explained.

When one lead or crayon F is used up, another one may be very quicklyand easily inl serted without removing any of the interior mechanism ofthe pencil byI inverting the pencil and pressing its cap B inward on adesk or resisting-surface to bring the untoothed side portion of thefeed-tube slot c in line with the slot d of the lead-tube, whereupon thelead Vwill be inserted and pushed into the casing, carrying the travelerbackward with it, and when the pressure on the cap is removed'theaxialturning of the feed-tube, as it is retracted by the spring H, .willengage one of its notches c2 with the traveler-pawl e, to lock the leadagainstbackward movement and hold it in position for writing, as willreadily be understood.

Having thus described my invent-ion, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Let` ters Patent, isa

l. In a pencil, the combination of a casing, a lengthwise-slottedfeeding-tube having rack teeth or notches along one side of its slot andbeing movable longitudinally and rotarily within the casing,alengthwise-slotted leadtube within the feeding-tube,a traveler withinthe lead-tube having a spring-pawl extending -through the slot of thelead-tube into the slot of the feeding-tube and capable of engaging andbeing disengaged from the teeth of the eler, and means for actuatingsaid feed-'tube from the outside of the casing, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a pencil,the combination of a casing, a feeding-tube within thesame having a lengthwise slot and teeth or notches along one side of theslot, a lengthwise-slotted lead-tube within the feeding-tube, said leadand feed. tubes being relatively provided, one with an oblique slot andthe other with a pin entering the'slot and having play only lengthwiseof it, whereby said tubes are adjustable relatively to each other onlyin a continuous oblique rotary lengthwise motion, and a travelerprovided with a spring-pawl which is engaged by the teeth of thefeed-tube in its forward movement and capable of clicking past orunderneath said teeth during its backward movement, and means foroperating said feed-tube from the outside of the casing, substantiallyas described.

3. In a pencil,the combination of a lengthwise-slotted feeding-tubehaving rack-teeth or notches along one side of the slot, alongitudinally-slotted lead-tube within the feedingtube, said lead andfeed tubes being relatively provided one with an oblique slot and theother with a pin entering the slot and having play only lengthwise ofit, and a traveler having a spring-pawl capable yof engaging the rack ofthe feed-tube and of being disengaged therefrom by a partial rotation ofsaid tube around the lead-tube, substantially as described.

4. A pencil made with a lengthwise-slotted lead-holding tube,a travelerheld therein and IOO a spring-pawl, a feed-tube outside the leadtube,said lead-tube and feed-tube being rela-` tively provided one with anoblique slot and the other with a pin entering the slot and having playonly lengthwise of it, said feedtube also provided with a lengthwiseslot and teeth or no tches at one side thereof adapted to engage thetraveler-pawl, said pawl engaged by the teeth of the feed-tube in itsforward movement and clicking pastl or underneath said teeth during itsbackward movement, and a spring interposed between the lead and feedtubes, all combined for operation substantially as described.

5. A pencil made witha lengthwise-slotted lead-holding tube, a travelerheld in the tube and' adapted to project the lead and provided with aspring-pawl, a feed-tube outside the lead-tube, said lead-tube andfeed-tube being relatively provided one with an oblique slot and theother with a pin entering the slotand having play only lengthwise of it,said feedtube also provided with a lengthwise slot and teeth or notchesat one side thereof adapted to receive the traveler-pawl, said pawlengaged by the te'eth of the feed-tube in its forward movement andclicking past or underneath said teeth during its backward movement, aloose cap on the lead-tube, and a spring interposed between this cap andthe IIO feed-tube, all combined for operation substantially asdescribed.

6. In a pencil, the combination, with a lengthwise-slotted feed-tubehaving a rack or teeth along one side of the slot, a lengthwiseslottedlead-tube in the feed-tube having serrations along that side of the slotfarthest from the toothed side of the feed-tube slot, and a traveler inthe lead-tube havinga pawl or stud entering the slots of the lead andfeed tubes and adapted for engagement by the lead-tube-slot seri-ations,substantially as described. y

7. In a pencil,the combination of a lengthwise-slotted feeding-tubehaving a rack or teeth along one side of the slot, a lengthwiseslottedlead-tube Within the feed-tube having serrations ,along that side of itsslot farthest from the toothed side of the feed-tube slot, saidlead-tube and feed-tube being relatively provided one with an obliqueslot and the other with a pin entering the slot and having play onlylengthwise of it, and a traveler having a spring-pawl capable ofengaging the rack of the feed-tube and of being disengaged 'therefrom bya partial rotation of said tube,

substantially as described.

S. The combination, in a pencil, of a casing A, a cap B thereon, afeed-tube C in the casing and having a lengthwise slot c, with teeth ornotches along one side, and an oblique slotI G, a tube D in the tube Cand having a lengthwise slot d, serrated atei3 at oneed ge, and a pin orstud I entering the feedtube slot G, a traveler in the tube D and havinga `springpawl adapted to the tube-slots c d and to the teeth andserrations of the feed and lead tubes, and a spring H between the endsof the lead and feed tubes, substantially as described.

9. The combination, in a pencil, of acasing A, a cap B thereon, afeed-tube C in the casing and having a lengthwise slot c, with' teeth ornotches along one side, and an oblique slot G, a lead-holding tube inthe tube C and having a lengthwise slot d and a pin or stud I enteringthe feedtube slot G, a traveler in the lead-tube, having a spring-pawladapted to the slots c d and to the teeth of the feedtube, and a springH between the ends of the lead and feed tubes, substantially asdescribed.

provided with a spring-pawl, the tension or l tlexure of saidspring-pawl being in an outward direction to project its free endthrough the slot of the lead-tubeinto engagement with the feed-tube fromthe inside of the latter, substantially as described.

11. In, a pencil, the combination, with a feed-tube and alongitudinally-slotted leadtube, of a traveler arranged within theleadtube and provided with a spring-pawl, the flexible shank of the saidspring-pawl lying mainly within the peripheral plane of the lead-tube,and the tension or tlexure of said pawl being in an outward direction toproject the free end of the pawl through the slot of the lead-tube intoengagement with the feedtube, substantially as described.

12. In a pencil, the combination, with a feed-tu be having alongitudinal series of teeth or shoulders and a longitudinally slottedlead-tube within the feed-tube, of a traveler arranged within thelead-tube and provided with a spring-pawl, said spring-pawl'lying mainlywithin the peripheral plane of the lead-tube, its free end projectingthrough the slot of the said lead-tube to engage with the teeth orshoulders of the feed-tube from the inside of the latter and disengagingby a rotary movement of the feed-tube relatively to the leadtube,substantially as described.

13. In a pencil, the combination, with a feed-tubehaving a longitudinalslot or way and a series of teeth at the side thereof and alongitudinally-slotted lead-tube within the feed-tube, of a travelerWithin the lead-tube, and a spring-pawl carried by the traveler, saidspring-pawl lying main'ly within the peripheral plane ofthe lead-tube,and the tension of the said pawl acting in an outward direction toproject the free end thereof through the slot of thelead-tube and intoengagement with the teeth of the feed-tube, the pawl disengaging fromthe feed-tube bya rotary movement of the latter relatively to thelead-tube, substantially as described.

LEWIS H. SONDIIEIM.

Witnesses:

HENRY L. GOODWIN, C. SEDGWrcK.

